Thailand Live Friday 5 Oct 2012

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RT@RichardBarrow: AP: 27 South Korean tourists were rescued after their boat sank on the way back from Coral Island (Koh Larn) to Pattaya

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Bt11 billion expected to circulate at vegetarian food festival: Kasikorn

BANGKOK, Oct 5 - Spending at Thailand's renowned celebrated vegetarian food festival is likely to top Bt11 billion this year, despite consumers tending to be more price conscious, as concerns about the rising cost of living and possible flooding which weigh on both minds and pocketbooks, according to the Kasikorn Research Centre (KRC).

The leading think tank said that consuming vegetarian food has been more popular in recent years, in particularly among the young generations, as veggie cuisines become more trendy and fashionable--as well as good for modest budgets.

Government measures such as raising the daily minimum wage, controlling agricultural produce prices and fixing consumer product prices may help spur purchasing power, but consumers may still spend cautiously due to the higher cost of living which has increased in tandem with higher energy prices.

The public concern over possible flooding as great as last year may dampen some spending, so consumers may tighten their belts and pay more attention to getting bargains when shopping.

The earlier flooding in some provinces which has resulted in higher prices for fresh produce and fruit could turn some consumers away from cooked vegetable dishes to choose instant noodles and soyamilk to spare their wallets.

The Vegetarian Food Festival is celebrated annually according to Chinese beliefs in abstaining from stimulants and meat during the ninth month of the lunar calendar.

-- TNA 2012-0=10-05

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Thailand boosts infrastructure investment in Mekong region: PM

BANGKOK, Oct 5 - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Friday that Thailand is investing in mega-projects to develop infrastructure and improve water management to make itself ready to become a connecting nation and a hub of food distribution among countries in the Mekong subregion.

The Thai premier spoke at a keynote speech at the Thailand investment conference on "Opportunities and Challenges of Thailand in the Evolution and Development of Greater Mekong Region" in the Thai capital this morning.

Ms Yingluck said the GMS countries have continued their economic development over the past two decades. At their last meeting, held in Myanmar, the premier said member countries agreed to cooperate to strengthen regional economic growth in the next four years.

The GMS comprises Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and China’s Yunnan province.

The Thai premier said the GMS is considered a crucial sub-region for ASEAN development and connectivity, especially as Myanmar is now open to the world community, so the GMS attracts more investors to the region.

The GMS countries agreed to boost their connections in transportation, trade and investment, paving the way for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, she said.

Thailand, as the centre of this region, Ms Yingluck said, has played an important role to link the transportation, and investment. It has invested US$90 billion in megaprojects in basic infrastructure, as well as short and long term water management projects to enable Thailand become the food distribution centre to other ASEAN countries.

Ms Yingluck said other transport projects being invested include high speed railways linking Thailand and Laos, Thailand and China, as well as an agreement with Myanmar to develop the Dawei deepwater seaport to boost investment between the two neighbouring countries.

Regarding the investment sector, Ms Yingluck said, Thailand’s securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is ready to promote development of GMS capital markets to enhance mutual economic growth and increase the value of its capital investment.

She said the key for success is to jointly invest in basic infrastructure funding which will help reduce public debt and other obstacles.

Ms Yingluck expressed confidence that the GMS will have a strong and sustainable growth in future. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-10-05

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Business communities in far South remain closed

NARATHIWAT, Oct 5 - Businesses in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani provinces are quiet as merchants and shoppers fear bombings or being shot if they open their businesses on Fridays, even though Thailand's security agencies have assured them of their safety.

Leaflets were distributed in the three mainly ethnic Malay Muslim provinces for several weeks ordering businesses to stop operating on Fridays. Most shops in and around busy marketplaces were closed last Friday and are closed today as well.

Most traders in the three southernmost provinces said they would rather be safe than sorry. They don't want to take a chance of being targeted with violence.

Light trading was witnessed at markets in Narathiwat municipality and nearby districts as more than 70 per cent of shops remained closed. Most vendors in the fresh market closed their shops and stalls for fear of their safety. More shops are closed, compared with last Friday, even though more police were deployed to provide security to the public at markets.

The passenger van services from Narathiwat to Yala, Pattani and Songkhla's Hat Yai district also stopped operating. More than 300 vans suspended services almost 100 per cent, forcing passengers to use bus services.

The atmosphere in Yala municipality market was also quiet. Leaflets were distributed to the public quoting Thailand's official national Muslim spiritual leader, the Chula Ratchamontri, to assure faithful Muslims and the wider public that working on Friday was not against Islamic practice.

Yala governor Dechrat Simsiri led civil servants and security officials to give moral support to traders and shoppers at the market.

Joint operation of military, police and administrative staff provided security to the public, all vehicles, motorcycles to market were under tight security check.

This was the third Friday that most businesses have been closed and public transport also halted services, causing difficulties for government officials, students and residents who normally travel between the districts and provincial seat.

In Pattani, Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) Secretary-General Pol Col Tawee Sodsong and new Pattani governor Pramook Lamool accompanied by a Muslim religious leader met shop owners and shoppers in Pattani municipality to give moral support.

More than half of shops suspended service--particularly food and tea shops--for fear of their safety.

In Songkhla, more than 80 per cent of shops in Chana district are closed, while at Thepha, Na Thawi and Saba Yoi districts some shops remained open.

Governmor Kritsada Boonrat met residents to assure them that security measures are in place. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-10-05

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Deep Purple and Donna Summer among rock hall of fame nominees

Los Angeles - Rock greats Deep Purple and Rush are among the nominees for the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with late disco queen Donna Summer, rap pioneers Public Enemy and NWA, and electronic music kings Kraftwerk, it was announced Thursday.

Other nominees includes Albert King, Chic, Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, the Meters, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Procol Harum and Randy Newman.

"The definition of ’rock and roll’ means different things to different people, but as broad as the classifications may be, they all share a common love of the music," commented Joel Peresman, president and chief executive of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.

"This year we again proudly put forth a fantastic array of groups and artists that span the entire genre that is ’rock and roll.’" To be eligible, acts must have released their first single or album no later than 1987. The public will for the first time get to have their say, in an online poll that will factor in to the voting of the more than 600 industry professionals who determine the inductees. The results will be announced in mid-December.

The induction ceremony will be held in Los Angeles in April. It will be the first time the ceremony has been there since 1993

-- The Nation 2012-10-05

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SOUTH CRISIS

Traders in deep south still fearful of opening for business

YALA: Shops in marketplaces in Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala provinces were quiet again today, with merchants and shoppers still fearful of the anonymous threats that opening for business on a Friday would make market vendors or business operators potential targets of insurgent violence.

Leaflets were distributed in deep southern provinces threatening people of violent action if they worked on Fridays because it was prohibited by the Islamic faith.

Many shops in and around busy marketplaces were closed on Friday last week and again today. Most traders in the three southernmost provinces said they would rather be safe than take a chance of being targetted by violence.

There was light trading in Narathiwat municipal market, with most of the shops shuttered and the majority of vendors in the fresh markets closed for safety reasons. More shops were closed than last Friday even though a greater number of security personnel were deployed to protect the public at markets.

The same atmosphere was seen at the Yala municipal market. However, leaflets were distributed to the public quoting Thailand's official Muslim spiritual leader the Chula Ratchamontri to assure business and buyers alike that working on Friday was not against Islamic practice.

Yala governor Dechrat Simsiri led government employees to give moral support to vendors and shoppers at the market.

Boonsom Thongsriprai, who heads the Federation of Southern Border Province Teachers, said the threat also covers teachers, who have been told not to teach on Friday. He urged the authorities for more action to assure the safety of the public and not to let the public continue to live in fear like this.

On Thursday, Chula Ratchamontri Aziz Pitakkumpol reiterated that Islamic teachings do not prohibit Muslims from working on Fridays and anybody stopping people from working on the day was violating their basic rights.

Working on Fridays was go against Islamic teachings and that Allah wanted Muslims to work so they did not become a burden on others, Aziz said.

-- The Nation 2012-10-05

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22 Korean Tourists involved in Boating accident off the coast of Pattaya

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RT @RichardBarrow: Tropical Cyclone GAEMI expected to bring torrential rain to lower Northeast, East & Central Thailand during 6-8 October

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The Beatles' first single "Love Me Do" was released 50 years ago today! 5 Oct 1962

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RT @BreakingNews: Japan's idle nuclear reactors can be restarted if deemed safe by a new regulator, the country's economics minister says - @Reuters

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CAPITAL MARKET

Thailand ready as GMS capital-market hub

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is ready to be the centre of capital markets in countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion, through investment tools designed to promote economic growth in the economies.

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RT @tulsathit: Admin Court has ruled that crackdown on yellow shirts on Oct 7, 2008 was an illegitimate act, and ordered state compensation.

RT @tulsathit: Good news: Weather Department has played down Plodprasop's warning of possible big floods this weekend.

RT @tulsathit: Bad news: It was Plodprasop who pushed the panic button for Bkk last year and was eventually proven right.

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SET index closed at 1311.35, up 4.72; Bt/USD30.40; GBP49.13; AUD31.04; EUR39.47; CAD30.85; HKD3.91; SGD24.62; JPY38.46

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PM orders Gaemi storm response centres set up

BANGKOK, Oct 5 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered the disaster prevention and mitigation department to set up a command centre in response to tropical storm Gaemi, which is forecast to pass Thailand on Sunday with a one day impact.

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update

Police re-confirm no further investigation into Belanger sisters' deaths

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: Krabi Police re-confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today that they have ceased any further investigation into the deaths of Canadian sisters Audrey and Noemi Belanger.

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[george]

UPDATE:

TV news show host Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda resigned from Thai Journalists Association after found guilty of embezzlement by National Anti-Corruption Commission /The Nation

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RT @tulsathit: Nuttawut: Only requirement for new Pheu Thai leader is that he must have a democratic heart. - matichon

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RT @tulsathit: RT @Nattha_ThaiPBS: Steve Jobs died a year ago today.

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RT @MariRamosCNN: @terryfrd There are no other tropical cyclones, besides Gaemi, near Vietnam.

[george]

German nabbed for taking illegal refuge in Thailand

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to continue:

Thailand Live Saturday 6 Oct 2012